The Best Rugged Smartphones of 2024

These devices are sure to hold up under the toughest conditions

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Whether you're active outside or work in an environment that isn't phone-friendly, durability is essential when buying a new smartphone. Some traits include Gorilla Glass, an IP rating for water and dust resistance, and build materials. A glass sandwich won't hold up like a rubberized plastic phone.

Best Compact

Unihertz Atom XL

Atom XL

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewirea 

Pros
  • Walkie Talkie functionality

  • Good camera

  • Generous storage

  • Two SIM card slots

Cons
  • So-so processor

  • Small screen

  • Network-related glitches

This smartphone is packed full of surprises. In addition to being built tough, which we'll get to, this phone has accessories that make it much more exciting, especially if you're an outdoors person. The 48-megapixel camera, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of onboard storage are all respectable.

The Helio P60 processor and four-inch screen are not the greatest by today's standards, but they are still enough to complete everyday tasks. Plus, the XL version of this phone comes with a removable antenna, which allows you to turn your smartphone into a walkie-talkie.

You can tell this phone is durable just by looking at it. You'll first notice the rubberized grip around the top, bottom, and back. Add to that the grippy backplate and aluminum side rails, and this is a phone you can carry in your nail apron. The exposed screw heads add to the toughness surrounding this fierce phone.

Best Updated Phone

CAT S42

CAT S42

Amazon

Pros
  • Water resistant

  • Two-day battery

  • Decent daytime photos

  • Relatively affordable

  • Dual SIM support

Cons
  • Sluggish performance

  • No biometric sensor

  • Poor low-light photos

  • Washed out, low-res screen

  • Limited internal storage

  • Limited carrier support

The CAT S42 is an impressively rugged phone, packing a bulky, hearty plastic exterior with covered ports and enhanced water, drop, and thermal shock resistance. It’s so well-protected that CAT advertises it as a phone you can wash with soap and water.

On the other hand, the CAT S42 features entry-level components akin to a much cheaper budget phone. It delivers sluggish performance, has a low-quality screen, and only takes decent photos in solid lighting. It’s usable, however, and the battery can provide two days of usage.

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